Karla

Paul Bernardo is probably one of the cruelest serial killers that ever existed. There is a relentless hate for this movie's portrayal of his victims. Yes, it is a greatly disturbing film, and my first comment to yuppie mothers people who are attacking this film from every angle is "Read the back of the box, morons." That being said, I would also like to say that I was completely disturbed by this film, yet I kept needing to see the rest of it. It will hook you in, believe me.

The movie initially had a lot of trouble getting produced, for obvious reasons, and it's also pretty well known that the director, Joel Bender, was a Grade A whack-job who still has a restraining order against him with the production executives at Quantum Entertainment, as well as many of the actors.
Karla is based on the real life killers Paul Bernardo (Misha Collins) and Karla Homolka (Laura Prepon). As most serial killer/rapist movies go, its alright. In most respects, this is a "modest" film, with only some very brief shots of a naked breast and no other frontal nudity. Even the major violence occurs in a rather Hitchcockian manner...recognized, but off-camera (although there are several scenes in which Karla is struck by Paul, but they are on par with a typical TV western). The majority of the story is told from the self-serving point of view of Karla herself. We are given no insight into what it must have been in their pasts that would lead them to commit such horrible acts.
I was VERY impressed by both Prepon and Collins. Now, I've only seen her as Donna in 'That 70's Show', but Prepon IS Karla Homolka, and although no Oscars were won for this film, she has undoubtedly impressed many critics who may have never suspected she had this talent within her. And I've only seen Collins in 24, Nip/Tuck, and (of course) Supernatural, but by the time the film reached the first perversion, he turns out to be a VERY good actor, although I would argue that Prepon gives a better performance.
Now, the film is narrated from real-life transcripts that Karla gave her psychiatrist, and many see that as a reason to distrust the movie. But the movie does NOT omit ANY of the evil deeds she committed. However, a LOT of the things Paul did are omitted in this brief 81 minutes movie - which is why I consider this a 'toned-down' version of the gruesome events.
I did not enjoy watching this movie because of its highly disturbing nature, but I felt drawn to keep watching each part of it to the end. And this movie will make you realize things about yourself. I realized that no matter how many times you tell yourself, there is always an evil, dark, dirty, nasty, awful person inside each and every human being. I like to consider myself a good, clean person, for the most part, but it was so disturbing and wrong that I HAD to watch more.
All in all, I think I'd give this a Mehh+ for being engaging and for great acting, but it was just too weird for me to see again.